T9no 


DTTDM575T5 


A.    SERMOISr 


DELIVERED  BY 


UEV.  DANIEL  I.  DREHER, 

PASTOR  OF  ST.  JAMEs'  CHURCH,  CONCORD,  N.  C, 

JUNE  13, 1861. 

Day  of  Humiliation  and  Prayer, 

AS  PER   APPOINTMENT 
OF 

THE  PKESIDENT  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  STATES 
OF  AMERICA. 


SALISBURY,  N.C.: 

PRINTED  AT  THE  WATCHMAN  OFFICE. 

1861. 


THE 

WILLIAM  R.  PERKINS 

LIBRARY 

OF 
DUKE  UNIVERSITY 


I 


Rare  Books 


SERMOlSr. 


*'  And  Abraham  said  unto  Lot^  let  there  be  no  strife,  I  pray  thee,  between 
tne  and  thee,  and  between  my  herdmen  and  thy  herdmen,  for  we  are  breth- 
ren. Is  not  the  whole  land  before  thee  ?  Separate  thyself,  I  pray  thee,  from 
me."     Gen.  xiii:  8,  9. 

In  obedience  to  a  Proclamation  of  the  President  of  the 
8ontliern  Confederacy,  setting  apart  this  day,  as  one  of  hu- 
miliation and  prayer,  we  are  assembled  to  humble  ourselves 
before  Almighty  God.  The  clarion  of  war  has  been  sounded 
in  our  once  peaceful  land,  and  the  cry  now  is — to  arms,  to 
arms!  Every  where  may  be  seen  troops  marshaling  them- 
selves, and  making  ready  for  the  conflict.  It  is  noAV  mete  for 
us  to  call  upon  Him  who  presides  over  nations  as  well  as  in- 
dividuals, and  devoutly  ask  Him  to  guide  us  through  the  com- 
ing struggle — for,  "  If  God  he  for  ics  loho  can  he  against  i^." 
There  are  but  two  means,  in  human  power,  to  prevent  strife 
between  individuals  and  nations,  when  either  feel  aggrieved 
and  dissensions  have  arisen — concession  and  separation.  If 
concessions  cannot  be  made,  then  separation  must  take  place, 
or  a  collision  will  inevitably  follow.  Human  nature  is  so 
constituted   that   it   will   resent  a  real  or  supposed   wrong. 

The  text  affords  us  an  illustration  how  men  acted  many 
years  ago  in  order  to  preserve  peace.  The  characters  brought 
to  our  notice  are  by  no  means  insignificant,  one  of  them  in 
holy  writ,  bears  the  significant  appellation  of  '■''Father  of  the 
faithful^''  who  said  to  his  nephew,  '•'■separate  thyself^  I  pray 
thee^from  tiieP  From  this,  we  see  that  when  concession  was 
not  practicable,  he  sought  peace  in  separation.  We  see  nor 
hear  nothing  here  of  sustaining  "  the  Union"  and  of  wild  de- 
votion to  the  "  stars  and  stripes" — surely  a  word  from  Abram 


would  have  quelled  the  strife  of  tlie  herdsmen,  but  wc  hear 
not  a  word  beyond  that  of  '■'■separate.'''' 

From  the  principal  laid  down  in  the  text,  I  proceed  to  the 
following  reflections : 

I.  The  separation  of  the  slave  from  the  free  States  should 
have  been  done  in  peace. 

So  far  as  the  separation  itself  is  concerned,  I  look  upon 
that  as  inevitable,  independent  of  our  present  troubles — for  it 
is  not  conceivable  that  a  people  so  differenlly  educated,  and 
with  such  antagonistic  interests  to  be  served,  could,  foi-  any 
considerable  time,  remain  united.  "We  are  two  people  in 
education  and  interests,  and  must  be  so  in  government  in  or- 
der to  live  happy.  The  protecting  ^gis  of  the  same  govern- 
ment can  never  preside  over  such  a  heterogenous  mass,  with- 
out showing  partiality  to  one  party  or  the  other;  then,  of 
course,  strife  must  follow.  Nature  and  nature's  God  iias 
marked  us  out  for  two  nations.  The  people  of  New  England 
difler  from  the  people  of  the  South  as  much  as  do  the  inhab- 
itants of  Old  England,  with  the  exception  of  their  being  ac- 
customed to  monarchy.     With  these  and  other  considerations : 

1.  The  present  war  is,  of  all  thijigs,  the  most  unnatural. 
Reason  would  direct  one  of  these  sections  to  go  to  "  the  rujM'' 
and  the  other  to  "  the  leff''  and  make  themselves  as  happy  as 
they  could,  rather  than  go  to  war,  and  after  spending  an  im- 
mense sum  of  money,  and  after  loosing  many  valuable  lives, 
and  suffering  great  deterioration  in  morals — have  to  separate 
in  the  end.  Better  do  so  now — no  good  can  resnltfrom  this  war 
that  might  not  have  been  secured  without  it ;  and  upon  some 
one  rests  the  responsibility  of  having  inaugerated  it — a  fear- 
ful retribution  awaits  some  one  for  this  unnatural  strife.  No 
aane  man  would  make  war  upon  his  own  familj^,  and  he  who 
does  to,  is  a  madman,  and  fit  only  for  bedlam.  And  yet, 
such  is  the  nature  of  th^  present  war,  declared  by  Mr.  Lin- 
coln, against  the  South.  It  is  said  that  the  mother  of  the  wife  of 
his  own  bosom  is  in,  and  in  favor  of  the  South,  and  that  he  has  a 
brother-in-law  serving  in  the  Southern  army.  The  condition 
of  this  man  is  only  the  exponent  of  the  condition  of  thousands 
involved  in  this  unhappy  contest,  and  after  the  fury  of  battle 
ig  over,  and  the  smoke  driven  away  by  the  winds  of  heaven, 


may  be  seen  brother,  son  or  father  weltering  in  his  own  blood 
— before  such  a  picture,  huuianit}^  grows  pale  and  turns  away 
in  horror.  The  strife  inaugurated  by  the  government,  at 
Washington,  is  only  a  repetition  of  the  conduct  of  Cain  on  an 
enlarged  scale,  and  may  we  not  expect  God  to  put  His  mark 
upon  it,  as  He  did  on  Cain. 

2.  Civilization  and  Christianity  demand  a  peaceful  separa- 
tion. In  the  latter  half  of  the  nineteenth  century — after  the 
human  mind  has  made  so  man}-  brilliant  achievements,  and 
thrown  an  inextinguishable  glory  and  lustre  over  the  arts  and 
sciences  unknown  to  the  ancients — how  humiliating  to  see  one 
of  the  most  enlightened  nations  of  the  world  engage  in  the 
hellish  pur}V)se  of  a  fratricidal  war.  Were  it  not  for  the  deep 
corruption  of  the  human  heart,  the  present  unnatural  conflict 
must  remain  an  enigma  forever;  that,  and  that  only,  affords 
n  satisfactory  solution  of  tliis  fiendish  war — and  of  the  appear- 
ance of  this  hydra  monster  in  mid  day  splendor  of  civiliza- 
tion. With  what  consternation  would,  the  intelligence  of  a 
war  breaking  out  between  England  and  France,  fall  upon  our 
cars,  and  how  much  greater  the  alarm,  should  we  iiear  that 
one  half  of  England  had  proclaimed  war  against  the  other — 
we  would  then  conclude  the  foundation  stone  of  intelligence 
was  giving  way,  and  that  the  fair  tree  of  knowledge  affords 
no  remedy  for  human  grievances.  But  stop,  it  is  not  the  one 
half  of  England  that  has  proclaimed  war  against  the  other — it 
is  war  declared  against  one  part  of  the  once  U.  States  by  the 
other — how  must  this  intelligence  fall  upon  the  ears  of  en- 
lightened Europe?  Will  the}''  not  ask,  if  a  nation  so  renown- 
ed for  inventive  genius — if  the  land  of  Washington,  Fulton, 
Morse  and  Mills,  could  not  have  devised  a  plan  of  adjusting 
their  national  grievances?  How  all  our  vaunted  pride  and 
boasting  of  our  free  institutions  must  be  humbled  in  the  esti- 
mation of  Europe — the  hopes  of  all  true  lovers  of  liberty  must 
begin  to  wane  as  the}'  look  at  the  unhappy  condition  of  that 
country,  once  known  as  the  home  of  the  oppressed  of  every 
land.  Tiie_y  may  well  conclude  that  the  protecting  aegis  of 
liberty  is  about  taking  its  final  flight  from  our  once  happy 
country.  If  the  South  falls  in  this  struggle,  with  her  fall  will 
go  dowa  the  cause  of  libertj'-  on  the  American  continent,  and 


a  iniKtarj  despotism  take  the  place  of  popular  «^vernment — 
the  most  wretclied  of  all  j;x>veniinents.  Sliall  we  not  hope  that 
the  nation,  claiming  the  intelligence  and  the  high  regard  for 
the  christian  religion  ours  does,  will  yet  fall  upon  some  plan, 
by  which  peace  may  be  restored,  and  the  hopes  of  mankind 
be  revived?  h'  wild  fanaticism  would  give  way  to  sober  rea- 
son, this  could  be  done — though  separated,  the  olive  branch 
of  peace  might  wave  over  us.  But  as  it  is,  the  North  is  fran- 
tic with  rage — with  an  apology  of  a  man  to  occupy  the  chair 
nf  Washington.  From  this  medley  no  one  could  expect  a  ra- 
tional solution  and  adjustment  of  onr  present  troubles.  At 
this  moment,  I  would  hail  as  a  God-send  the  mediation  of 
some  of  the  great  European  Powers — the  North  is  contending 
for  a  shadow — her  sceptre  has  departed  from  the  South,  never 
to  return — perhaps  if  told  so  by  France  or  England,  reason 
would  return  to  her. 

The  claims  of  Christianity  certainly  are  very  powerful,  and 
should  have  great  bearing  in  detciinining  our  present  ti'ou- 
bles.  This  nation  is  neither  Pagan  nor  Mohamedau — we  are 
a  christian  people — our  enemies  make  loud  pretensions  of 
love  for  the  christian  religion — let  them  now  prove  their 
'\faith  by  their  works,''''  and  as  they  tirst  proclaimed  wai-,  be- 
first  to  offer  peace. 

The  prosperity  of  all  our  religious  operations  demand  a 
course  of  this  kind — how  melancholy  to  see  the  cause  of  Christ 
crushed  by  the  iron  heel  of  war — the  church  must  bleed  at 
every  pore,  as  this  unholy  war  progresses — congregations  be 
stripted  of  their  members  and  made  food  for  war — ministers 
driven  from  their  pulpits  for  want  of  sup})ort— Colleges  and 
Theological  Seminaries  shut  for  want  of  students,  and  should 
this  unhapp3'  contest  continue  long,  no  human  mind  can  con- 
ceive the  injury  done  to  religion.  This,  alx)ve  all  other  con- 
siderations, should  lead  our  enemies  to  ot^'or  us  peace,  and  us- 
to  accept  it  when  offered.  We  are  under  no  obligations  what  - 
ever  to  ofier  peace,  as  we  only  have  declared!  war  in  self-de- 
fense, all  tile  South  wants  is  to  be  "let  alone."' 

3.  Humanity  demands  a  peaceful  separation.  From  the 
immense  armies  that  are  gathering  at  different  points,  aiu^ 
from  the  scientific  improvement  in  all  the  implements  o4'  war- 


fare,  as  well  as  the  implacable  hatred  of  one  party  for  the  other, 
should  a  collision  of  arms  occur  we  may  naturally  look  for 
great  destruction  of  life.  Would  it  not  be  well  for  our  enemies 
to  begin  to  count  the  cost  before  any  more  blood  should  flow 
— before  this  nation  is  converted  into  one  vast  slaughter  house. 
True,  we  are  threatened  with  "subjugation  and  extermina- 
tion," but  when  the  work  shall  begin,  our  antagonists  will 
find  the  business  of  extermination  rather  fatiguing,  and  very 
bloody.  What  folly!  what  madness  to  talk  so.  To  subju- 
gate and  exterminate  ten  or  eleven  millions,  when  Great  Brit- 
ain could  not  conquer  three  millions — remember  our  enemies 
have  but  ver}'  little  better  advantages  than  Britain  had  in 
the  Revolution.  Still,  if  this  war  continues,  it  must  be  very 
blood}' — all  history  proves  a  civil  war  the  most  desperate  and 
destructive  to  human  life.  Hence,  humanity  requires  a  peace- 
ful separation  in  order  to  prevent  a  waste  of  blood. 

4.  The  South  has  given  the  North  no  just  reason  to  make 
war  upon  her. 

The  North  says  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  as  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  on  the  6th  day  of  November,  1860, 
by  a  fanatical  party  in  the  North,  upon  a  certain  political 
platform  inimical  to  the  South,  was  not  sufficient  cause  for 
the  South  to  secede.  In  answer  to  this,  I  say,  that  the  seces- 
sion of  the  South,  or  any  part  of  it — the  bombardment  of  Fort 
Sumter,  under  the  circumstances,  was  no  just  causes  for  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  to  declare  war  upon  her.  1  leave  the  North  to--."^ 
settle  this  question  upon  the  principle  of  justice  to  God  and 
man. 

To  say  nothing  of  eithics,  prudence  should  have  induced 
the  North  to  have  made  some  effort  at  conciliating  the  South 
after  the  election  in  last  November ;  but  to  the  everlasting 
disgrace  of  the  Republican  party,  when  applied  to  for  some 
guarantee,  respecting  the  rights  of  the  South,  they  sternly  re- 
fused all  efforts  at  conciliation.  The  South  then  had  but  one 
alternative  left  for  safety,  and  that  was  in  secession,  for  which 
act,  the  North  very  piously  declared  war  upon  her.  Now. 
"  we  shall  see  what  we  shall  see."  Had  the  North,  at  the 
proper  time,  made  suitable  efforts,  this  whole  trouble  might 
have  been  avoided — the  North  still  has  peace  or  war  in  her 


own  power.  I  repeat,  that  the  South  has  not  given  the  North 
sufficient  cause  to  declare  war  against  her,  to  leave  a  Union 
whose  articles  of  agreement  Iiad  been  violated  again  and 
again,  without  either  shame  or  remorse,  and  for  which  there 
was  no  redress,  surel}'  these  violations  of  the  original  com- 
pact, annulled  the  agreement,  and  opened  the  way  for  the 
several  States  to  resume  their  sovereignty  as  independent 
communities,  whenever  they  might  think  proper  to  do  so. 

I.  Whenever  any  contracting  party  fails  to  comply  with 
the  articles  of  agreement,  the  contract  becomes  null  and  void, 
and  the  contracting  parties  absolved  from  their  obligations  to 
the  agreement.  This  is  precisely  the  condition  of  the  old  gov- 
ernment. Because  the  South  wishes  to  enter  into  another 
Confederation  with  such  States  as  may  feel  inclined  to  join 
for  mutual  protection — this  act,  the  jSTorth  considers  a  cassus 
belli — a  cause  for  war.     Now 

II.  A  peaceable  sejM7'atton  of  ike  South  from  the  North 
would  be  productwe  of  good  to  both  sections. 

1.  The  North  could  carry  on  her  commercial  and  manufac- 
turing interests.  These,  in  case  of  a  peaceful  separation,  need 
suffer  no  material  change,  from  the  fact  that  they  have  the 
cotton  mills,  and  other  mechanical  establishments  for  carry- 
ing on  the  various  manufacturing  purposes.  This  would  be 
greatly  in  their  favor  in  case  they  had  consented  to  a  peace- 
able separation.  But,  if  they  persist  in  this  war.  the  South 
will  manage  to  take  care  of  lierself  and  of  her  own  interest. 
They  will  lose  more  than  they  will  gain,  placing  the  war  up- 
on a  commercial  footing. 

In  the  event  of  a  peaceable  separation,  the  North  would  be 
free  from  the  trouble  of  slavery,  and  \\\q\v  j/ums  consciences 
would  be  free  from  the  sin  of  slavery.  Does  not  any  man  know, 
who  knows  any  thing  at  all,  that  if  the  North  was  sincere  in 
her  negro  ])hilanthropy,  she  would  bid  the  slave  States  God 
speed  in  their  separation,  instead  of  making  war  upon  them. 
Then  the  North  would  have  a  homogeneous  government,  and 
in  her  Congress  only  have  the  interests  of  free  States  to  con- 
sult, which  would  very  materially  lessen  the  burthen  of  legis- 
lation. 

2.  The  South,  in  the  meantime,  could  have  carried  on  her 


agricultural  pursuits.  With  a  government  of  her  own,  con- 
scious of  being  permitted  to  manage  her  own  institution  iu 
her  own  way — every  resource  she  could  command  would  be 
developed — new  life  and  energy  would  be  diffused  through 
all  her  pursuits.  Having  a  homogeneous  government  also, 
which  Avould  lessen  the  burthen  of  legislation.  And  another 
important  consideration,  a  matter  known  to  every  man  in  bu- 
siness, the  country  would  be  spared  a  financial  crisis  every 
four  years,  in  the  event  the  slave  and  free  States  had  a  gov- 
ernment of  their  own. 

For  years  past,  every  Presidential  election  has  been  attend- 
ed with  tiglitness  in  money  matters.  This  would  be  removed 
in  case  of  separate  governments,  and  confidence  secured. 

If  we  have  been  correct  in  the  foregoing  remarks,  (and  we 
think  we  have,)  what  can  be  the  cause  of  the  present  policy 
of  the  Northern  government?  We  have  considered  the 
subject  in  all  its  possible  bearings  ;  for  want  of  time,  confin- 
ing ourself  to  the  most  prominent  thoughts,  and  all  indicate 
a  peaceable  separation  as  the  best  course. 

But  the  secret  of  all  this  obstinacy  must  be  looked  for  in 
the  peculiar  character  of  the  people  of  the  Xorth.  If  you 
turn  to  history,  you  will  find  that  the  New  England  States 
were  originally  settled  by  a  peculiar  people  from  England, 
Scotland  and  Holland,  a  rebellious  and  restless  people,  always 
fond  of  liberty,  but  most  intolerable  masters  when  they  had 
the  power.  Poor  Charles  the  I,  fell  a  victim  to  the  fury  of 
their  ancestors,  &c.  In  America,  they  raised  the  hand  of  re- 
ligious persecution  among  the  colonies.  Strange  as  it  may 
seem,  they  who  fled  from  persecution  were  first  to  persecute. 
They  Iiave  been  people  of  one  idea  for  many  years.  This,  in 
connection  with  the  annual  influx  of  foreigners,  who  knew 
nothing  of  our  institutions,  are  the  causes  of  our  present 
troubles.  And  hence  the  unwillingness  to  let  the  South  go  in 
peace ;  rather  than  do  so,  they  prefer  forcing  a  war  upon  us 
with  a  view  of  our  subjugation. 

Our  enemies  disregard  the  voice  of  reason,  religion  and  hu- 
manit}',  and  with  frenzied  madness,  threaten  to  bring  ruin  up- 
on us.  xVnd  for  what?  just  because  we  have  ventured  to  re- 
sist the  fanatical  aggressions  of  the  North — borne  by  us  with 


10 

remarkable  patience  for  tlie  last  thirty  years.  Like  Abrain 
of  old,  loving  peace,  and  wishing  to  remain  loyal  to  God,  we 
have  taken  the  only  course  recognised  by  liim  for  the  accom- 
plishment of  this  object — separation.  We  wish  to  leave  them 
for  the  sake  of  ])eace,  and  for  the  quiet  pursuit  of  happiness. 
Since  we  have  sought  peace  in  separation,  war  has  been 
declared  against  us  by  our  enemies.  Mighty  and  terrible  ar- 
mies are  being  marshaled  into  the  service  of  the  Federal  and 
Confederate  govei-nments.  AVith  great  propriety  it  may  be 
asked, 

III.    Why  is  this  wai\  and  for  what  are  we  contending  ? 

1.  The  Xorth  says  it  is  to  maintain  the  integrity  of  the  gov- 
ernment in  the  preservation  of  the  Union  and  protection  of  the 
American  flag.  In  the  inaugural  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  he  declared 
his  purpose  to  protect  the  public  property,  collect  the  reve- 
nue, and  preserve  the  Union,  a  policy  of  all  things  the  most 
foolhardy,  a  determination  fraught  with  ruin,  and  ruin  only. 
From  the  time  of  the  delivery  of  his  inaugural,  Lincoln  has 
seen  his  cause  growing  more  desperate  in  the  South,  but  with 
steady  purpose  he  still  pursues  his  phantom.  Immediately 
after  the  reduction  of  Fort  Sunjter,  in  Charleston  Harbor, 
war  was  declared  against  seven  States  in  the  South,  This  re- 
markable and  arrogant  pi'oduction.  induced  four  more  South- 
ern States  to  withdraw  from  the  Federal  compact;  in  fact  the 
entire  South  is  nearly  a  unit.  This  act  of  the  South  has  exas- 
perated the  North  beyond  measure,  who,  inflated  with  pride, 
and  burning  with  rage,  wish  and  labor  for  our  ruin. 

This  feeling,  no  doubt,  has  been  inflamed  from  the  false 
conce))tion  of  the  true  nature  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Uni- 
ted States,  viewing  it  as  a  law  consolidating  the  several  States 
into  an  inseparable  Union ;  whereas,  it  is  only  a  mutual  com- 
pact or  covenant,  and  each  State  an  integral  member,  having 
separate  laws  for  its  internal  i-egulation.  Having  violated 
the  constitution  again  and  again  without  the  least  compunc- 
tion of  conscience,  the  North  with  pious  modesty  tells  us 
lidelity  to  the  Union  requires  us  to  submit  to  their  domina- 
tion. The  Union  !  the  Union  !  is  all  that  can  be  heard.  The 
North  is  now  in  arms  against  the  South,  with  a  view  of  coerc- 
ing her  back  into  an  unnatural  Union.     Ministers  of  the  Gos- 


11 

pel  are  proclaiming  loudly  for  the  Union  in  their  sermons — 
men  and  women,  under  the  garb  of  religion,  either  pure  or 
hypocritical,  are  lifting  their  hands  in  prayer  that  God  may 
prosper  their  cause  in  our  reduction  and  acquiescence  to  the 
tyranical  rule  of  those  with  whom  we  have  no  common  sym- 
patliy.     On  the  other  hand,  when  we  turn  to  tlie 

2.  South,  it  is  her  violated  rights  for  which  she  is  contend- 
ing, as  expressed  in  her  separation  from  the  old  government, 
[ler  policy,  as  declared  by  lier  cliief  Executive  in  his  inau- 
gural, at  Montgomer}^,  is  that  of  peaceable  separation,  simply 
"  to  be  let  alone  ;"  but  if  war  was  forced  upon  her  she  would 
defend  herself,  nothing  more  nor  less  could  reasonably  be  ask- 
ed or  given.  Blind  and  infatuated  zeal  for  the  Union,  "  the 
whole  Union,"  has  forced  her  to  take  up  arms  against  her  un- 
natural enemies  in  self-defence. 

Here  we  iind  tlie  same  religious  regeme  as  in  the  North  : 
ministers  pray  and  preach  in  favor  of  the  South  ;  pious  men 
and  women  pray  that  God  may  prosper  our  cause,  and  pro- 
tect us  from  the  hand  of  the  destroyer.  Now  the  question 
naturally  arises,  w'ho  is  right  in  this  contest  ?  I  unhesitatingly 
say  the  South.  When  aggrieved,  and  no  redress  w^as  afford- 
ed her  under  the  constitution  of  the  old  government  for  her  in- 
jured rights,  she  quietly  turned  aside  witliont  bravadoingany 
one;  and  had  she  been  permitted  to  remain  unmolested,  the 
garlands  of  peace  would  still  hang  from  lier  temples.  But 
tliese  garlands  have  been  torn  froni  her  bi'ow  by  rude  hands, 
and  civil  w^ar  with  all  its  fury  and  devastation,  forced  upon 
her,  in  order  to  weaken,  intimidate,  and  force  her  back  into 
the   Union. 

3.  Force  can  never  unite  the  two  sections  ;  this  is  out  of  the 
question.  A  union  to  be  worth  anj^  thing,  must  be  a  union 
of  h)ve  and  mutual  affection,  and  not  one  of  force  and  mutu- 
al liatred.  AYe  have  gone  too  for  a  conciliation,  even  if  concil- 
iation was  practicable.  The  bitter  feeling  engendered  from 
past  M'rongs,  inflamed  by  tlie  military  display  of  the  present 
liour  and  for  months  past,  render  it  impossible  for  us  to  fall 
ui)on  any  satisfactoiy  plan  of  adjusting  our  present  national 
troubles.  We  must  separate,  tliere  is  no  human  power  that 
can  unite  us  now,  our  union  is  forevev  broken;  between  the 


12 

Xorth  and  South  there  is  a  '■'■  great  cjnlf  fixed P  The  known 
laws  of  the  operations  of  the  human  mind  forbid  any  hope  of 
the  re-construction  of  the  Federal  government  in  its  original 
integrit}'. 

A  popular  government,  to  be  perpetual,  must  respect  all 
sections,  and  protect  the  interests  of  all  its  citizens.  There 
must  be  no  sectional  partiality,  for  in  that  case  confidence 
would  be  lost,  bitter  feelings  excited,  and  a  separation  ensue. 

The  machinery  of  a  popular  government  is  very  delicate, 
and  requires  to  be  handled  with  great  care;  the  least  disaffec- 
tion throws  the  whole  business  into  confusion,  and  the  dam- 
age done  beyond  repair. 

The  government  of  the  United  States  was  a  jKipular  gov- 
ernment, but  her  legislation  was  partial,  and  that  produced 
disaftoction,  which  resulted  in  separation.  This  I'uptnre  can 
never  be  healed,  and  it  is  worse  than  folly  to  think  so.  The 
evil  done  is  immense  and  past  all  hope  of  recover}'.  Viola- 
ted confidence  and  alienated  feeling  M'ill  never  j'cturn  and  be 
as  they  once  were.  Our  separation  is  complete.  "  Come 
weal  or  come  woe,  sink  or  swini,  live  or  die,''  the  thing  is  an 
unalterable  fact. 

REFLECTIONS. 

1.  The  war  has  been  forced  upon  us,  and  from  past  and 
present  indications,  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  it  will  be 
conducted  with  gi'cat  cruelt}'. .  The  enemy  is  now  on  Southern 
soil,  perpetrating  the  most  heartless  barbarities — men  have 
been  shot  down  because  they  have  dared  to  defend  their  own 
property  in  their  own  dwellings.  The  lamented  Jackson  is 
one  of  this  number.  Inoffending  women  are  subjected  to  a 
fate  worse  than  death.  The  rebellion  in  India,  and  the  mas- 
sacre of  the  christians  in  Syria  by  the  Druses,  alone  afiord  a 
parallel  to  the  atrocities  perpetrated  by  the  soldiers  of  the 
North,  now  in  and  on  the  coast  of  Virginia.  The  only  harm 
the  Soutli  has  ever  done  the  North,  is  that  of  giving  the  North 
her  trade  and  shipping,  from  which  thej'^  have  grown  rich, 
proud  and  insolent.  Now  the  worst  the  base  ingi-atcs  can  do 
is  too  good  for  us.  The  soil  of  the  South  has  already  been 
stained  with  the  blood  of  Southern  patriots  in  defense  of  their 
rights;  this  may  only   be  the  prelude  of  that  carnage  that 


13 

must  follow  a  collision  between  the  great  armies  that  slowly 
and  cautiously  approach  each  other. 

The  man  that  inaugurated  tliis  war  has  shown  himself  de- 
void of  all  pi'inciplo  of  veracity — having  violated  the  most 
sacred  promises.  Under  the  specious  and  alluring  pretense  of 
protecting  the  public  property,  he  called  out  militar)^  troops. 
Some  of  these  same  troops  are  now  menacing  Virginia,  and 
outraging  her  citizens.  The  fact  is,  from  the  conduct  of  the 
Federal  soldiers,  one  would  judge  them  sent  to  destroy,  rather 
than  protect  the  property  of  the  government. 

From  the  unhappy  conduct  of  Major  Anderson,  on  Sulli- 
van's Island  to  the  present  time,  we  have  been  given  to  un- 
derstand that  destruction,  as  well  as  protection,  is  a  part  of 
their  policy. 

As  this  war  has  been  forced  upon  us,  we  should  be  united 
in  the  defense  of  our  homes,  property,  liberty  and  all  that 
men  count  dear  in  this  life.  The  South  is  the  soil  upon  which 
most  of  us  were  born  ;  in  that  same  soil  rest  the  bodies  of  our 
parents  and  friends;  let  us  be  a  unit  in  defense  of  these  pre- 
cious relics,  and  preserve  them  from  the  polluting  touch  of 
the  Js^oithern  vandals,  from  whom  every  spark  of  humanity 
appears  to  have  departed ;  for  those  who  are  guilty  of  plun- 
der, arson,  murder  and  rape,  cannot  be  very  humane.  The 
Union  and  the  American  Flag  should  no  longer  be  possessed 
with  charms  for  any  Southerner,  but  all  should  hold  them  as 
objects  of  disgust,  because  they  are  polluted  by  Northern  fa- 
naticism, mingled  with  cruel  wrongs.  The  days  of  Washing- 
ton and  his  compeers  are  gone  forever ;  still  the  South  may 
yet  fill  a  bright  page  in  history. 

2.  There  should  be  but  one  mind  and  one  voice  in  the  South 
on  this  great  question,  either  as  our  adopted  or  natural  home. 
Unanimity  among  those  who  occupy  her  soil  is  absolutely  re- 
quired, in  order  to  secure  triumph.  We  may  differ  in  the 
manner  of  resistance,  but  agree  on  the  subject  of  resistance 
itself — that  is  the  great  question.  A  man  who  would  turn 
against  the  South  now,  would  deserve  the  fate  of  Benedict 
Arnold,  from  the  fact  that  opposition  can  do  no  good,  and 
would  j-esult  in  harm,  and  only  harm. 


u 

Irt  God^'s  name  let  us  meet  our  opposing  foe  with  <a  steady 
arm  and  determined  blow.  Tiiey  proclaimed  the  war,  now 
let  them  first  offer  peace,  which  they  can  have  by  returning 
to  their  homes.  We  will  not  follow  them  in  the  event  they 
leave  us  in  the  possession  of  our  rights. 

Let  us  this  day  lift  our  hearts  devoutl}'  to  Almighty  God, 
who  presides  over  men  and  nations,  and  pray  him  to  prosper 
our  arms  in  defense  of  our  rights— that  our  enemies  may  be 
put  to  confusion,  and  driven  back  from  our  Southern  soil. 

War  is  what  we  may  expect  in  this  world — men  will  tram- 
]ile  upon  the  rights  of  one  another,  and  human  nature  will 
resent  a  wrong.  These  are  circumstances  as  certain  as  cause 
and  effect.  When  war  comes,  some  one  is  in  the  wi'ong,  and  a 
just  God  will  hold  the  offender  responsible  for  the  injury 
done — an  awful  retribution  must  await  an  ambitious  man, 
who,  for  selfish  purposes,  makes  war  upon  an  innocent  peo- 
ple. I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying,  that  the  present  incum- 
bent of  the  chair  at  Washington,  has  been  influenced  from 
motives  of  ambition  and  vain  glor}',  and  if  this  country  is  to 
be  drenched  with  the  blood  of  human  beings,  slain  in  civil 
war,  their  blood  will  be  required  at  his  hands  and  the  hands 
of  his  party.  We  should  be  prepared  to  meet  those  who  are 
determined  on  our  subjugation  and  extermination,  and  whose 
motto  is  "  Booty  and  Beauty,"  (if  not  inscribed  upon  their  ban- 
ners, is  shown  by  their  actions)  a  more  iniquitous  and  hellish 
sentiment  could  not  have  orginated  in  randemonium  itself. 
Before  they  run  over  and  fulfill  this  programme,  they  will 
find  the  work  of  subjugation  a  herculean  task.  May  we  not 
expect  vengeance  to  fall  upon  the  base  violators  of  innocence 
and  shameless  insulters  of  purity.  The  long-suffering  of  God 
may  cause  the  sulphurious  smoke  to  linger,  already  exhaling 
from  the  fires  prepared  to  consume  this  modern  Sodom,  yet 
the  judgment  will,  and  must  come ;  an  awful  retribution 
is  in  store  to  be  dealt  out  in  God's  own  way  at  his  own  time 
for  these  vile  inhumans.  It  may  be  that  the  North  is 
given  over  by  fleaven  W>  judicial  blindness  in  order 
that  they  may  be  severely  scourged.  Upon  moral  and 
rational  principles,  I  can  see  no  just  reason  for  the  North 
to   make   war  upon  us — reason  will   forbid  the  war,  if  she 


15 

would  be  permitted  to  do  her  perfect  work.  No  sane  man 
can  think  seriously  of  subjugating  the  South.  That  is  physical- 
ly impossible.  Religion  forbids  the  prosecution  of  the  war — 
her  mission  is  one  of  peace.  What  must  be  the  condition  of 
those  who  profess  to  be  wise  and  religious,  yet  against  reason 
and  religion,  persist  in  an  unnatural  war.  God  must  intend  a 
scourge  for  them  in  this  contest,  and  for  that  purpose,  permits 
the  North  to  rush  madly  on  to  her  own  destruction.  In  this 
strife,  the  North  has  all  to  loose  and  nothing  to  gain.  An  im- 
mense debt  must  necessarily  be  incurred,  and  in  the  end  fail 
to  bring  back  the  slave  States,  and  be  forced  to  acknowledge 
their  independence.  A  people  determined,  as  are  those  of 
the  South^  will  not  be  conquered.  Our  enemies  should  remem- 
ber the  warning  of  lord  Chatham  to  the  British  Parliament : 
"My  lords,  you  cannot  conquer  America."  The  sequel  de- 
clared tlie  truth  of  tlie  assertion  of  the  noble  Lord.  In  the 
name  of  God,  with  our  trust  in  Him  for  the  protection  of  our 
cause,  we  wn'll  bear  our  arms  and  meet  our  foes  with  such 
means  of  defense  as  He  has  been  pleased  to  give  us.  At  the 
same  time  let  us  pray  for  our  enemies,  and  do  nothing  that 
may  unnecessarily  provoke  them — it  may  be  tliat  reason  will 
return  to  them,  and  that  they  will  desist  from  their  unholy 
purpose. 

Something  may  turn  up  yet,  in  a  way  we  think  not,  under 
the  directing  hand  of  God,  by  which  a  speedy  termination 
may  be  put  to  the  war,  and  the  vast  armies  now  met  for  mu- 
tual slaughter,  disband  and  return  to  their  homes.  Should  a 
conflict  ensue  and  this  war  last — how  many  brave  ones  may 
fall,  and  how  many  hearts  made  sorrowful,  and  streams  of 
tears,  warm  with  affection,  flow,  no  one  can  tell.  This  pic- 
ture is  too  affecting  to  dwell  upon — would  to  God  tlie  degen- 
erate, and  I  must  say,  cruel  and  despotic  Abram,  of  Illinois, 
would  say,  as  the  good  and  benignant  Abram  of  Urr  of  Chal- 
dea  said  to  his  kinsman  :  "  Let  there  he  no  strife^  1  pray  thee^ 
between  me  and  thee,  hetiveen  my  herdmen  and  thy  herdmen, 
for  we  are  hrethren.  Is  not  the  whole  land  before  thee  f  Sep- 
arate thyself,  I  pray  thee,  from  meP  Such  a  declaration 
might  not  All  a  page  in  history  of  bloody  deeds,  but  it  would 
Bend  the  murderous  and  licentious  troops  of  the  North  to  their 


16 

own  homes,  to  gain  a  living  in  some  way  other  than  that  of 
waging  a  cruel  war  upon  the  South,  while  at  the  same  time,  it 
would  permit  tlie  soldiers  of  the  South  to  return  home  and  en- 
joy, with  their  friends,  the  sweets  of  peace  and  the  honest  pur- 
suits of  life. 

Sliall  we  not  lift  uj)  our  hands  and  hearts  to  God  in  devout 
prayer,  that  a  successful  and  speedy  end  may  be  put  to  this 
unnatural  war.  Surely  it  is  a  cause  deserving  our  prayers. 
God  is  a  hearer  of  prayer.  lie  can  do  wonders  in  a  way  we 
know  not.  O!  that  the  Trincc  of  Peace  may  interpose  and 
dispel  the  dark  clouds  gathering  over  our  land,  soort  to  burst 
in  one  mighty  crash,  so  loud  and  terrible,  that  the  thrill  will 
be  felt  throughout  the  civilized  world,  and  the  shock  of  which 
will  be  felt  by  unborn  millions  for  years  to  come.  He  that 
?;aid  to  the  stormy  winds  and  raging  waves,  ''^  Peace  ^  he  still" 
can  calm  the  passions  of  men.  lie  that  sent  His  angel,  and 
in  one  night  destroyed  the  powerful  army  of  Senacherib  for  the 
deliverance  of  Ilis  people,  can  rescue  us  from  the  hand  of  the 
destroyer,  if  it  seem  good  for  Him  to  do  so.  Into  thy  hands 
O  !  God,  we  commit  our  cause — deliver  us  from  the  hand  of 
our  enemies. 


pH8.5 


